Use the superlative form when there is nothing or nobody better, bigger, smaller, more expensive, more beautiful etc. than the thing or person you’re talking about.
Use the following rules to form the superlative:
1-syllable adjectives
THE SHORT + EST = THE SHORTEST
THE SMALL + EST = THE SMALLEST
THE THIN + EST = THE THINNEST (double the last consonant if it comes after a vowel)
- Janine’s hair is the shortest.
- Yoyo is our smallest dog.
- David is the thinnest in the family.
2-syllable adjectives ending with -y
THE HAPPY + EST = THE HAPPIEST (y changes to i!)
THE FUNNY + EST = THE FUNNIEST
- 2016 was the happiest year in my life.
- This is the funniest film I’ve ever seen.
2-syllable adjectives not ending with -y and adjectives with more than 2 syllables
THE MOST + MODERN = THE MOST MODERN
THE MOST + CLEVER = THE MOST CLEVER
THE MOST + INTERESTING = THE MOST INTERESTING
THE MOST + LEGIBLE = THE MOST LEGIBLE
- This is the most modern smartphone I’ve ever had.
- Jack is the most clever in the family.
- Planet Earth is the most interesting documentary I’ve ever seen.
- My handwriting is the most legible in the class.
Exceptions
The following adjectives are exceptions to the above rules:
- Good – the best
Anthony Hopkins is the best actor in the world.
- Bad – the worst
The weather is the worst in January.
- Far – the farthest/furthest (farest is also correct)
Kirkwell is the farthest from London.
- Many/Much – the most
The New York Public Library has the most books.
- Little – the least
Sue did the least work in the team.
Recommended for you: How to Form Comparative Adjectives
